Diddy can’t be charged for 2016 L.A. hotel assault, DA’s office says

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Rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs won’t be charged for the 2016 Century City hotel beating of his former girlfriend that became public on Friday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

On Friday, CNN obtained security camera footage of Combs brutally assaulting Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura inside the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City on March 5, 2016.

The video depicts Combs, wearing only a towel and socks, throwing Ventura to the ground and kicking her repeatedly. He then grabs her purse and large bag before kicking her again and dragging her away.

FILE – In this May 30, 2018, file photo, Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives at the LA Premiere of “The Four: Battle For Stardom” at the CBS Radford Studio Center in Los Angeles. Combs’ lawyer said Tuesday, March 26, 2024, that the searches of his Los Angeles and Miami properties by federal authorities in a sex-trafficking investigation were ”a gross use of military-level force” and that Combs is “innocent and will continue to fight” to clear his name. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)

A civil complaint filed by Ventura last year says Combs paid the hotel $50,000 for the security footage.

Citing the statute of limitations, the DA’s Office said it found the video “disturbing,” but charges couldn’t be filed due to the amount of time that has passed.

“We are aware of the video that has been circulating online allegedly depicting Sean Combs assaulting a young woman in Los Angeles,” the statement reads. “We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch. If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.”

The DA’s Office said it encourages those who have evidence or have witnessed a crime to report it to law enforcement.

In March of 2024, federal agents raided homes in both Los Angeles and Miami tied to Combs.

Various reports claimed the investigation was handled by the Department of Homeland Security’s team that handles human trafficking crimes. The investigation reportedly stemmed from many of the allegations in several civil lawsuits that have been filed against him. The lawsuits contain claims of sexual assault, rape and human trafficking.

Combs’ lawyer, Aaron Dyer, called the raids ”a gross use of military-level force” and that Combs is “innocent and will continue to fight” to clear his name.

Christine Samra contributed to this report.

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